Wednesday, September 30, 2009

With flu season starting we are all much more conscious of taking precautionary procedures for cleanliness, especially around food preparation. Being a part-time foodservice worker, I am extremely aware. A recent story by Juliet Bodenitz-Rich in Foodservice Monthlyaddressed should foodservice workers wear gloves and I think you will be surprised at the answer.

With the permission of Michael Birchenall of Foodservice Monthly and Ms Bodenitz-Rich, I am reposting the entire story because it makes you stop and think and at times, that is a very good thing.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Judy DiGioia, sales and marketing manager at Morton’s the Steakhouse/ here in Baltimore is a long time networking gal-pal of mine and she invited me to come to a special tasting of the recent Mexican import, Don Roberto Tequilas on Friday, October 9 at 6 p.m. It looks to be an evening of great drink, fabo food and camaraderie.

Monday, September 28, 2009

A number of you are new to Dining Dish, though I've been writing it since 2005. I am a foodie gone awry. I love all things food from preparation to dining, to restaurants to covered dish parties, to what's hot and what's not - follow my rants, raves, reviews, recipes and reminiscences.

It is an honor to be nominated but it is even better if I could win. There are some excellent food blogs out there but I hope you view mine as being diverse and recognize not only do I talk the talk but I walk the walk. From styling on stage with Sara Moulton to being a board member of the Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation - I take food, food education seriously but always with my touch of humor. Baltimore Style Magazine said I was the Lucy Ricardo of Baltimore Food blogs - it could be, you never know what is coming next.

As an old friend or new one, your vote for Dining Dish confirms that the hours I spend writing, photographing and video materials is not in vain.

So as Sally Fields said, "if you love me, really, really love me please vote. You can vote daily. Help me even more and send an e-mail to your friends with the link to vote. http://data.baltimoresun.com/mobbies/?vote_for=140#140

My recent trip to New York City allowed me to partake of the Bon Appétit Supper Club and Café at the corner of 101 West 57th and 6th Avenue. In New York, vacant store fronts are taken over for promotions for a limited time. I remember going into this location last year as an airline had a big promotion showing off their new first class redux

Sunday, September 27, 2009

As in all businesses, one should think of the ‘what if’ this happens what should we do, to be prepared. In the restaurant business the ‘what if’ could mean staff not showing up, someone getting ill in the restaurant, plumbing issues, fire, no water, no electricity, someone choking – these are all realities and many restaurateurs will tell you they have lived through many of these if not all.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

I have often talked about how the people in the foodservice industry do so much for charities. I think I know two chefs that have gone over the edge or soon will be. Chefs Jerry Edwards and John Walsh of Chef’s Expression Catering have agreed to rappel the 23 story Silo Point Tower on Wednesday, September 30 at 2:30 p.m. in order to raise funds for the Gaudenzia Women and Children’s Center.

Monday, September 21, 2009

City Cafe seemed to me to be the go to place for a morning meeting in the Mt. Vernon neighborhood. My assumption came from two meetings I had there and never looked beyond the café area. Who knew, there was a bar and lounge as well as a restaurant in the back.

Owners Bruce Bodie and Gino Cardinale, owners since 1994, finished a complete renovation of all areas of City Cafe this summer and at the same time brought in a new chef.

There has been a great deal of press about the new B & O American Brasserie in the Hotel Monaco and deservedly so. The surroundings are welcoming and lush, they even have leather on portions of the walls. The bar has a view of Charles Street with the city’s master mixologist, Brendan Dorr, formerly of Ixia, creating tasty and visually appealing liquid refreshment.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

A number of years ago at a restaurant in Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive , my sister and I decided to have lunch. I ordered a sandwich which had sprouts as an ingredient. I can’t tell you the type of sandwich but I sure remember the spouts. Sprouts tend to cling together, pulling unwanted ones along for the ride

Friday, September 18, 2009

Wine collector and connoisseur, Robert (Bobby) Kacher joins Sotto Sopra Restaurant on Thursday, September 24th at 7 p.m. for an evening of fine food prepared and matched to wines from his hand-picked selection of boutique French wines.

Monday, September 14, 2009

When the opportunity arose that I was going to interview Dan Aykroyd the first question that came to mind to ask him was did he ever meet the woman he satirized on Saturday Night Live, the ground-breaking Julia Child?

Saturday, September 12, 2009

The answer to my earlier post as to where Dan Aykroyd had dinner last night it was Ryleigh’s on Cross Street . Drew Foxwell waited on the party of 8 who enjoyed Dan’s Crystal Head vodka with a splash of cranberry.

This time of year fills our tables with the bounty of summer as well as the beginnings of the fall produce. It is a great time to have both seasons on your table. Many restaurants are gearing up and refreshing their menus for the new season. One those restaurants is The Capital Grille, offering a $39 three course dinner featuring the seasonal flavors. The menu has started already and last through November 1st with their ‘Best of the Season” menu.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Actor, entrepreneur Dan Aykroyd is in town promoting his Crystal Head Vodka and Dan Aykroyd wines at Cranbrook Liquors in Cockeysville. After the signings which are suppose to end at 6 p.m. but I believe might run a bit longer he is heading into the city for dinner.

When job opportunities are far and few between and closing that deal could be lost over lacking proper dining skills, you might want to consider brushing up your manners. Employers have the pick-of-the-litter nowadays and how you are able to present yourself and interact with others is scrutinized very closely.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Watching Top Chef Las Vegas this evening reminded me of the video interviews I filmed with 3 cheftestants and one Top Chef winner: Carla Hall, Jeff McInnis, Michael Midgely and Ilan Hall. I thought you would enjoy having all four candid interviews in one post for easy viewing entertainment.

Monday, September 07, 2009

Here comes one of the “back in the days stories.” When I was young, well, when I was younger, single and hanging out in Philadelphia I heard of Le Bec Fin. My friend Lois would talk incessantly about it, the premiere restaurant in the City of Brotherly Love. Over the 40 years, Chef Perrier has run the kitchen he has won accolades left and right, both nationally and internationally.

The first movie trailer is out on this dark comedy thriller where a New York City chef and television personality takes on the sweet taste of revenge against a food critic for crucifying his restaurant. Watch the first trailer: Chef gone killer in Bitter Feast

Saturday, September 05, 2009

I’m not much of gardener but I planted a tomato plant in my front flower bed this year and it has been fruitful. There is just something about the summer’s first picked tomato, warm from the sun, eating it over the kitchen sink with its juice running down my face - truly a zen moment. How good was it, ask the rabbits who have discovered the plant and feast as I sleep. Maybe they are the rabbits that haunted my father's gardern, he called them son-of-a-b*tch and g*d-damn-b*stard.

How many times have you opened up the refrigerator door and stared at the ingredients and wondered what should you make? You have pickles, chicken, ketchup and mayonnaise - what can you create with that?

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Who doesn’t love pie? Blueberry, chocolate silk, lemon meringue, and coconut custard – these are a selection of some of my favorites. If you love pie, really, really love pie there is a company in Texas, Royer’s , who will send you a pie a month for your lifetime.

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About Dining Dish

Dining Dish (a.k.a, Dara Bunjon) is founder of Dara Does It, which caters to the food industry everything from PR to food styling to cooking instructions, and more. Enjoy her rants, raves, recipes and food adventures, and let her know yours!

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